"We have around 20 people a week coming to us, saying that they've been subjected to caste discrimination", said Eugene Culas, spokesman for the Voice of Dalit International, which is behind the Lottery-funded support group.

"We have children at school who are being bullied and mocked because they're from so-called low castes, we have discrimination in the workplace, where some Asians refuse to work with the low castes, and we even have violence".

Asian rapper Shiv Gharu has suffered since childhood because of his caste.

"When I was a child, I was taunted and abused and called slave boy and untouchable", he said.

"I was involved with a woman who was from a higher caste and her father would not even let me in their house.

"I was not accepted and when people from the higher castes found out about my relationship, I was beaten up, all because I'm from a low caste".

However, there are some Hindus who say caste discrimination is a thing of the past and here in Britain, the Asian community has moved on.

All Hindus, irrespective of caste, believe in Ganesh

"I deplore anybody who discriminates on a caste basis but I can say that it is not as widespread as these people are making out," said Rabindara Nath Pathak, from the Shri Ram Hindu temple in Southall.

"In my temple we sit together and pray together, irrespective of caste.

"No one is bothered about caste - yes, there may have been problems years back, but now we are moving forward and the so-called 'low castes' must do the same and forget about the past".

However Shiv has no doubts about the existence of caste discrimination.

He said: "I have suffered for so many years, I'm a British Asian and I can say it has really affected my life.